Known as the King of Winter Fruits, Korean strawberries have become famous worldwide for their natural sweetness. But did you know? There’s more than one variety of Korean strawberries and each has its own unique factor. Here are 10 Korean Strawberry Varieties you should check out in Korea:
Seolhyang Strawberries (설향딸기)
Perhaps the most representative variety of strawberries from Korea is the Seolhyang Strawberry. This domestic variety of strawberries was cultivated in Nonsan back in 2005 and takes up nearly 90% of the strawberries sold in Korea.
They are best known for their soft and tender texture along with its irresistible sweet and tart flavour. Because of its tender exterior, Seolhyang strawberries are best eaten on its own or fresh upon picking.
Maehyang Strawberries (매향딸기)
Maehyang strawberries are the first native Korean strawberry variety and were cultivated before Seolhyang strawberries. They tend to have lesser acidity and range around 12 on the Brix level scale, which means they taste sweeter compared to Seolhyang.
Merry Queen Strawberries (메리퀸딸기)
Originating from Damyang, Merry Queen strawberries were cultivated using Seolhyang and Maehyang strawberries. The Merry Queen variety is said to be 30-40% firmer than other strawberry varieties and has a 20% higher Brix level than the Seolhyang.
With both the Maehyang and Merry Queen Strawberries being sweeter than the Seolhyang variety, they taste great in strawberry milk and shakes without the need to add any extra sugar.
King’s Berry Strawberries (킹스베리딸기)
A look at the King’s Berry Strawberry and you’ll understand why it’s known as the ‘Emperor of Strawberries’. Boasting a size nearly as big as a human palm, the Nonsan-cultivated strawberry is firm and juicy and comes with a natural sweetness.
Because of its size, there are usually only 2 to 4 King’s Berry Strawberries in a box. To enjoy the most out of this, we recommend having it on its own or dipping it in some dark chocolate as a once-in-a-while sinful treat.
Santa Strawberries (싼타딸기)
The Santa Strawberry is bright red in colour and larger in size compared to the Seolhyang and Maehyang strawberries. They are grown in Gyeongsangbuk-do and have a sweet aroma similar to plums.
Speaking of Santa Strawberries, one fun way to spice up your strawberries is to decorate them like santas! With some cream cheese or whipped cream, this is a super simple way to add some fun to your strawberries!
Jukhyang Strawberries (죽향딸기)
A type of strawberry developed in Damyang, the Jukhyang strawberries have a nice balance of sweet and sour flavours. With its firmer texture, they tend to last longer in the fridge, so you don’t have to worry about them going bad!
If you happen to visit Korea and come across Jukhyang strawberries, you can buy and keep them in your hotel fridge and enjoy it throughout your trip!
With its crisp texture, the Jukhyang Strawberry is perfect on top of tarts.
Arihyang Strawberries (아리향딸기)
The Arihyang strawberry has a similar sweetness to the Seolhyang strawberry, however, it is larger in size and slightly firmer in terms of texture.
They’re best used to make strawberry ades for that perfect balance of sweet and sour. When coupled with the refreshing fizzy sensation of carbonated soda, all we can say is daebak.
Geumsil Strawberries (금실딸기)
Geumsil is a domestic strawberry variety made using a hybrid of the Maehyang and Seolhyang strawberry. One unique thing about this strawberry is its subtle peach sweetness to it.
The Geumsil strawberry is also firmer than most strawberries, which means you can spot this particular variety even in May. Do note that Geumsil strawberries taste best when they are 80% coloured, so opt for the bright red ones.
Because of its unique peach sweetness, strawberry cakes made using the Geumsil variety will have a more interesting taste profile compared to your usual strawberry shortcakes.
Durihyang Strawberries (두리향딸기)
The Durihyang strawberries experienced the BTS effect recently after Jin was seen gifting a box to his team member, J-hope. The surge in demand caused the variety to be sold out instantly.
This particular strawberry is said to be less sour and holds a slightly higher level of sweetness compared to the Seolhyang variety.
Vitaberry Strawberries (비타베리딸기)
Easily distinguished by its unique shade of orange-red, the Vita Strawberries are rich in Vitamin C, hence the name. The berry has a slightly crisp texture, along with a subtle peach and floral scent.
The Vitamin C content is said to be 33.4% higher than the Seolhyang strawberry. Add this to your morning smoothies for that extra boost of immunity!
Finding Strawberries in Korea
In Korea, most of the strawberries are packed in boxes, with the variety labelled on them. If you’re unfamiliar with the Korean language, simply refer to the names in this article to know what you’re dealing with.
Sometimes, the packaging also states the Brix level of the strawberry, which is a quick way to see how sweet the strawberry is. If you want something sweeter, we recommend looking for one with a Brix level of 12 and above.
You can also look out for Korean strawberries in Singapore supermarkets as they do bring them in sometimes.
Even better, take it to the next level and plan a trip to Korea during the peak strawberry season in winter! Don’t worry if you can’t visit during the winter months as you can still experience K-strawberries until May.
Be sure to keep a lookout for our upcoming articles as we show you the best places in Korea to do some strawberry picking, explore seasonal Korean fruits and more!
For more information about travelling in Korea, go to https://english.visitkorea.or.kr
*This post is brought to you in partnership with Korea Tourism Organization Singapore
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